Our special spring issue is out now. Get a discounted subscription to our print magazine today. Your support keeps us publishing!

Striking Air Canada Workers Won a Tentative Agreement

By
Jenny Brown

Defying a government back-to-work order, 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants went on strike last week to demand pay for currently uncompensated pre- and post-flight work. After three days, the workers secured a tentative agreement.

Air Canada flight attendants continue to protest after the Canada Industrial Relations Board declared the strike by the company's 10,000 flight attendants illegal and has ordered the union's leadership to direct its members to return to work.

National president of CUPE Mark Hancock speaks to striking Air Canada flight attendants at Pearson International Airport. (Nick Lachance / Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Flight attendants with Air Canada and subsidiary Air Canada Rouge walked out early August 17. As expected, the Liberal government ordered them back to work twelve hours later, declaring their strike unlawful.

In a bold move with wide implications, the ten thousand striking flight attendants defied the order. They’d voted 99.7 percent to strike earlier this month.

Their union, an affiliate of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), said the back-to-work order violated their right to strike, and CUPE president Mark Hancock ripped it up.

Sorry, but this article is available to active subscribers only. Please log in or become a subscriber.